Hundreds of upper Mazaruni youth to benefit from skills training centre
GINA, GUYANA, Wednesday, December 14, 2016
A grant for the construction of a youth skills development centre in the Waramadong Village seeks to empower and motivate indigenous youth in the upper Mazaruni, Region Seven with life skills.
Today, the Toshao of Waramadong Village Clyde Henry was the recipient of grant assistance for Grassroots Human Security Projects (GPP) from the government of Japan. A simple signing ceremony between the Toshao and Japan’s Ambassador Mitsuhiko Okada was held today, at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs boardroom, North Road, Georgetown.
Toshao of Waramadong Village, Clyde Henry (right) receives grant document from Japanese Ambassador Mitsuhiko Okada (left). Also in photo: Honorary Consul-General of Japan, Kashir Khan (far left), Advisor to the Minister of Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs Mervyn Williams and staff of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Toshao Henry noted that the US$69,739 grant will allow for the live – in secondary and primary school children in the community and nearby villages to benefit from skills training such as boat building, outboard engine repairs, forestry, carpentry, wood work products, and small business management.
“It will allow us in that entire catchment area to redirect our young women away from the troublesome issues involving trafficking in persons by empowering them with a life and personal development skills and attitudes,” Toshao Henry added.
The construction of the modernised building and provision of equipment is expected to be implemented over the next 12 months. More than 650 young people across the Upper Mazaruni, Region Seven district including the Waramadong village are expected to benefit from skills training.
Ambassador Okada noted that the grant assistance is part of continuing friendly relations between Guyana and Japan. The GPP seeks to promote cultural determination of the indigenous people.
“This ceremony demonstrates the building of strong bilateral relations between Japan and…Guyana not only through inter-government interaction, but also through corporative efforts from community-based grass roots level,” Ambassador Okada noted.
Meanwhile, Advisor to the Minister of Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs, Mervyn Williams thanked Ambassador Okada on behalf the Minister. “It is the kind of cooperation that we believe is invaluable to the forward movement of our indigenous people, the lifting of their capacities in the various areas, but beyond that, this project leaves a physical structure that can continue to serve, (the communities)” Williams said.
By: Tiffny Rhodius